NEW MOON OF BANDS SPREAD ALL OVER VOLUME 9 NUMBER*. 3.^ PABLO, MONTANA 59855
FEBRUARY 15,1980
CHAR—KOOSTA BABE
The Char-Koosta's Editor for the past 2'/2 years, Artfyth 'Babe'Deadrick, died February 4th in a Seattle hospital, following a brief illness.
Born in Poison on August 5, 1925 as Ardyth Holt, Babe (a nickname she vastly preferred over her given name) attended schools in Poison, St. Ignatius and Oregon.
Her career following school included marriage, motherhood and work as an upholsterer and trimmer for Boeing Industries' Seattle plant before she returned to the reservation in the 1970's. Prior to becoming a journalist, she worked briefly for Poison High School and did statistical survey work for the BIA.
Babe began at the Char-Koosta in
June of1977 as a reporter under then Editor Lonny Desimone. When Lonny decided to resign, she encouraged Babe to apply for the editor's job, which Babe did - successfully. Thus began what she often referred to as living a dream come true -
running a newspaper.
Actually, her biggest goal in life was building a log cabin up on the homesite she'd recently obtained (where she spent her early years) and settling down to a peaceful life living close to nature. Most important, though, she had plans to write a book about - and for - her family.
Sadly, Babe became ill while visiting friends and relatives in Washington over the Christmas holidays. After a five-week struggle - which saw the initial diagnosis of pneumonia seem to improve somewhat, only to be followed by perhaps half-a-dozen complications - she died in her sleep on Monday evening, February 4th. She was 54.
"AS FAR AS WE ARE CONCERNED, YOU ARE THE CHAMPION":
The Flathead Reservation Honors A HERO
Several hundred fans and well-wishers gathered in St. Ignatius on February 2nd to pay tribute to Western Montana's favorite boxer - and certainly the Flathead Reservation's favorite athlete - Marvin Camel.
The afternoon - long celebration, sponsored by the Flathead Culture Committee (and the tribal council, as well, who donated money towards the food), was held to honor Marvin and the Camel family for their various noteworthy achievements in athletics.
The event began with an informal autograph session, then moved on to a feast and a full roster of a dozen or more speeches. The list of speakers - one of whom came
from the state of Washington - included: two of Marvin's high school coaches, Joe McDonald and Larry Anderson (who said the Camels are "the most talented family I've ever known"); Tribal Councilmen Noel Pichette and Bearhead Swaney (who "emceed" the proceedings); tribal spiritual leaders John Peter Paul, Mitch SmallSalmon and Johnny Arlee; a Spokane leader from Washington, Hy Neh; a student of Indian culture, Michael Joseph; former Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal secretary, Doug Allard ("Thank you, Marvin for being courteous, a good businessman and a good Indian"); noted pow-wow participant Octave Finley (whose words headline this